What protocol is followed when screening whole blood donors for HIV-1 RNA?

What protocol is followed when screening whole blood donors for HIV-1 RNA?

• A. Pools of 10 are tested; if the pool is nonreactive, donors are accepted
• B. Pools of 20 are tested; if the pool is reactive, samples are tested individually
• C. Pools of up to 16 donors are tested; if the pool is reactive, individual samples are screened
• D. All donors are screened individually; if samples are reactive, blood is discarded

Answer: (C)

When screening whole blood donors for HIV-1 RNA, testing protocols typically involve pooling samples from multiple donors to maximize efficiency while still ensuring accuracy. The correct answer specifies that pools of up to 16 donors are tested. If the pool is found to be reactive, the next step is to test each sample from that pool individually. This approach balances the need to screen a high volume of samples with the necessary thorough investigation of any positive pool to pinpoint which donor(s) may be carrying the virus. This method is beneficial because testing pools helps to identify potential HIV-1 infections without requiring individual tests for each donor initially, saving both time and resources. In the event of a reactive pool, individual testing of samples quickly follows to ensure that any infected donations can be isolated and dealt with appropriately, thereby enhancing the safety of the blood supply. The context of this screening process relies on a combination of statistical reasoning and the understanding of the viral load in populations, which is why pooling strategies, such as the one that tests pools of up to 16, are effectively employed in blood donation programs. Individual screening of all donors would be less efficient and more resource-intensive, potentially leading to delays in donor acceptance or rejection processes.

When screening whole blood donors for HIV-1 RNA, testing protocols typically involve pooling samples from multiple donors to maximize efficiency while still ensuring accuracy. The correct answer specifies that pools of up to 16 donors are tested. If the pool is found to be reactive, the next step is to test each sample from that pool individually. This approach balances the need to screen a high volume of samples with the necessary thorough investigation of any positive pool to pinpoint which donor(s) may be carrying the virus.

This method is beneficial because testing pools helps to identify potential HIV-1 infections without requiring individual tests for each donor initially, saving both time and resources. In the event of a reactive pool, individual testing of samples quickly follows to ensure that any infected donations can be isolated and dealt with appropriately, thereby enhancing the safety of the blood supply.

The context of this screening process relies on a combination of statistical reasoning and the understanding of the viral load in populations, which is why pooling strategies, such as the one that tests pools of up to 16, are effectively employed in blood donation programs. Individual screening of all donors would be less efficient and more resource-intensive, potentially leading to delays in donor acceptance or rejection processes.